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WORLDLY SORROW

worldlysorrow3

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The nature of worldly sorrow.

Understanding Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

Introduction

Welcome to Session 3 of our study on godly sorrow. In this session, we will explore the concept of godly sorrow and its contrast with worldly sorrow through Biblical examples. Our goal is to understand how godly sorrow leads to repentance and growth, while worldly sorrow leads to deeper spiritual issues.

Let's begin with prayer and reflection, and then we'll dive into the Scriptures for study and application.

1. Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your grace, mercy, and presence in our lives. As we study Your Word today, we seek Your wisdom and understanding. Help us to discern between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow, and guide us to grow in our faith through Your teachings. Amen.

2. Scripture Reading and Reflection

Genesis 3:6-13 (NIV)

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’ And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’ The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”

Reflection:

  1. What went wrong in Genesis 3:6-13?

  2. How did Adam and Eve’s responses reveal their understanding of their sin?

  3. How does this passage illustrate the concept of godly sorrow versus worldly sorrow?

Action Point: Reflect on a time when you faced a situation of wrongdoing. How did your response align with the example of Adam and Eve? Were you quick to fix the problem yourself, or did you seek God’s help and forgiveness?

3. Scripture Reading and Reflection

Numbers 20:1-13 (NIV)

“In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, ‘If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!’ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes, and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.’ So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’ These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.”

Reflection:

  1. What was Moses’ response to the people’s accusations?

  2. How did Moses’ actions and words reveal the state of his heart?

  3. What was the consequence of Moses’ failure to honor God properly?

Action Point: Consider a time when you were under pressure and faced accusations or challenges. How did you respond? Reflect on whether your response honored God and demonstrated trust in Him.

4. Application and Action Points

  1. Identify Personal Sorrow: Reflect on whether you have experienced godly sorrow or worldly sorrow in your life. Write down any instances where you felt true remorse and sought God’s forgiveness, versus times you tried to handle things on your own or blamed others.

  2. Seek Reconciliation: If you have unresolved issues or conflicts with others, approach them with a spirit of humility and seek reconciliation. Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom in addressing these issues.

  3. Pray for a Heart Change: Ask God to help you develop a heart that is sensitive to His voice and open to His correction. Pray for the ability to distinguish between godly and worldly sorrow in your life.

5. Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the lessons learned today through Your Word. Help us to recognize and embrace godly sorrow in our lives, leading us to true repentance and growth. May we honor You in all our responses and actions, seeking Your grace and guidance in every situation. We pray for Your continued presence and wisdom as we strive to live according to Your will. Amen.

End of Session 3

Thank you for participating in this session. Please take time to reflect on today’s teachings and apply them to your daily life. We look forward to continuing our journey together in faith.